NBA Picks: Bulls vs Grizz

The Chicago Bulls ambulance tour continues as they are in Memphis tonight to take on the Memphis Grizzlies. Both teams are sitting on the outside looking in at the playoffs but despite Chicago’s rash of injuries, they are still only a game back of the freefalling Toronto Raptors.

Chicago Bulls +11 +550 Over 204½
Memphis Grizzlies -11 -750 Under 204½

The NBA odds makers don’t like the undermanned Bulls chances as they list the Memphis Grizzlies as -11 point favorites and have posted the game total at 204½ points. If you’re feeling lucky you can put $100 on the Bulls to win straight up and if they upset the Grizzlies you can make a cool $550 on the moneyline.

Like their last game against the Miami Heat and the six games before that, the Bulls will be without Joakim Noah who is proving to be a more valuable to the team than first thought, he gave the Bulls a tenacious defender and someone who knew his role and would just rebound. While the loss of Noah has been hard, the loss of premier point guard Derrick Rose has given the Bulls little hope of competing with opponents. Rose is doubtful for tonight’s game against the Grizzlies but even if he plays it’s unlikely it will change the result.

The Bulls Starting lineup could consist of Jannero Pargo, Flip Murray, James Johnson, Taj Gibson and Brad Miller. Memphis won’t have any trouble beating these guys.

The combination of injuries and a string of tough opponents has kept the Bulls on the outside looking in and if it wasn’t for the poor play of the Toronto Raptors during this stretch the Bulls would already be booking tee times.

Memphis is five games back of Portland for the final playoff spot in the West but with only 19 games to they need to win almost every game and hope the Trailblazers stumble. Their next five will dictate the rest of the season, as they play 4 games against teams with sub .500 records. If they manage to win 4 or 5 then they can carry that momentum into their games against the Western Conference teams they are chasing. Without any games left against the Trailblazers, their destiny will be in someone else’s hands.

In their past 10 games, the Bulls have given up 111.6 points a game, which is about 12 points higher than their seasonal average. Over 204½ on the game total is the right side but my only concern is that undermanned Bulls won’t do their part to meet the points needed to go over but the against Chicago, Memphis should be able to score enough for both teams.

The line opened at 9½ and quickly moved to 11, but even at -11 the Grizzlies are a solid play, until Rose, Noah and to a lesser extent Loul Deng are back in the Chicago lineup I’ll do nothing but bet against them.